OCTOBER 25, 2006

A smart move in Dubai

Michael Schumacher is to have his own island off the coast of Dubai - the result of a very clever publicity stunt by Dubai's crown prince - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The German will be given a man-made island in an offshore development called "The World" which will feature 300 islands which, if seen from the sky will ressemble the Earth. The island, which will not be ready for a couple of years, is said to be worth about $7m but the news that Schumacher will be one of the owners may be worth much more than for Dubai as it is likley to attract more buyers for the other islands and give the emirate a little more glitz to attract the tourists dollars of the future.